Fire-escape



(No Model.) 2 YSheets--Sheet 1. Pl P. PPAL-PP..

\ r PIPP- ESCAPE.

N0.28,9 ,304. Patented NOV. 273.18.83.

w A l v WQITNESSES A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0-Model.)

. P. P. PEALER.

4 FIRE ESCAPE.

n l. N0. 289,304. ja'eltd NOV. 27, 1883.

WITNESSES at its lower half to form a handle, A.

llNiT-En STATES PATENT @EETCE..

PETER r. PEALER, `or soU'rH DANsvILLE, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.` 289,304, dated November 2x7, 1883.

Application filed February 13, 1383. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

South Dansville, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented certainynew and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes;`

and I do hereby declare that the following is a l full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which for'm part of this specication.

My invention has for its object to provide simple and effective means for facilitating the escape of persons from burning buildings, commonly called fire-escapes, and to this end it consists in certain novel means by which persons may descend with safety, and their velocity in descending thereby can be controlled at will by means of certain combination of elements so constructed that a greater or less amount of friction is brought to bear upon the rope by which it is intended the descent shall be made, and other elements of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l represents aperspective view of my improved escape7 complete. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the manner of de scent from the stories of a house by said means.

Referring more particularly thereto7 A is thefriction-block,somewhatcurved or rounded The top of the block is bored down obliquely to the back and continued to the front side, forming a short continuous zigzag passage, a, therein for the rope B, said rope being looped at the upper end and holding a strong grapplinghook, G, therein. Running all around the block at near the top is a strong iron or steel band, c, held therein by strong staples c', and running through similar staples in and holding thereon the operating or controlling lever and brake D. This handle has asmall guide, d, within which works a spring, e, screwed or otherwise securedto the block A. The leverhandle D works against the rope, and is adapted to be depressed to a greater or less extent to increase or diminish the friction. Surrounding the handle and block at about the y Y middle is another spring, f, which is intended `Be 1t known that I, PETER P. PEALEE, of l to prevent the lever-handle from iilying up. Depending from the top of the device are two or more looped hand straps or chains, g g. adapted to sustain the weight of the person while the hand is free to operatefthe brake on the block, and in the `bottom endof the block is a ring or staple, /i,strongy "secured therein, within which is held a strap or band, t', adapted to be placed around the body in anyway as to hold one safely, and assist in holding their weight in the descent, said strap having a buckle, enabling it to be lengthened or shortened. In the top of the block, in a small ring, is a cord or wire,.Which is intended to be wound on a small reel in a window-frame, which unwinds as one goes down, and is for the purpose of drawing up the device to be used,con secutively, for as many persons to escape as there may be. j is a ring-guide for the rope. The straps g g are secured to the top of the block by the staple-pin k, which holds the cord for drawing up the device, and they are held under the band, which runs around the top thereof. One strap depends at theback and another on the side, the one at the back being intended to place therethrough one hand gripping the machine, and the other strap to hold on with by the other hand. From the form of bore fat-here are three turns given the rope. A point of friction is obtained at each turn,y which is mainly controlled at the point where the lever handle brake is brought to bear against it.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Vhen an escape is desired, the device is secured in a ring in thewindow,or otherwise,

the strap fastened around any portion of the body, and the hand placed through the strap g, a strong grasp given the block and leverbrake, when, by tightening or loosening the grip, the velocity of their descent can be regulated to a nicety by the lever-handle, which works against the rope as a brake. It will be seen by the zigzag bore in the top portion of my apparatus, through which the rope passes, and by the manipulation of the lever-handle, that a greater or less amount of frictional surface is brought to bear to be controlled at will. Two or more of these escapes can be used on the saine rope, and persons escape from two or IOO more stories at once, the descent of each being capable of being so controlled|` as hereinbefore explained, as for one not to interfere with another.

It will be seen by my contrivance that a cheap, yet simple and effective apparatus or iire-escape, is obtained, which brings it within the reach of every household to be provided with such means, is compact in size, can be readily carried in the pocket of persons While traveling, who have to run many risks of aceident from re.

My device need not necessarily be made of Wood, but can be made of metal, and other slight variations made therein Without materially departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In afire-escape, the friction-block, made as described, in combination with the handstraps7 body-supporting strap, spring f, and rope, substantially as described.

2. In means for facilitating the escape of persons from burning buildings, the combination of the block, bored obliquely from the top to the sides, as described, whereby frictional points of contact are obtained with the leverbrake Working on the metallic band, spring e, Working in the guide, spring f, staple k, guide j, rope, and hand and body straps, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination of the friction-block, as described, With the metallic band surrounding it near its top, and holding thereon the lever-handle, and the spring e, secured on the friction-block, and Working in a guide on the brake, said lever-brake adapted to bear against the rope by pressure from the hand, the Weight of the person being held as described, whereby the friction on the rope is increased or diminished, as and in the manner set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PETER I?. PEALER.

Witnesses:

B. F. MoRsELL, O. E. DUFFY. 

